Gene Simmons performed Van Halen’s demo version of “House Of Pain” live during a recent solo concert in Milwaukee. According to Setlist.fm, this marked the first time Simmons ever performed the song in concert. The fan-shot video above was from The Gene Simmons Band’s show at the Rock & Brews restaurant Wednesday (July 3rd).
Simmons’ connection to the song dates back to 1976 when it was included on the demo he produced for Van Halen after spotting the band playing at a Sunset Strip club. Simmons offered to produce the band’s demo and sign them to his company Man of 1,000 Faces. Unable to get the band a record deal, he eventually let Van Halen out of its contract, leading to the band’s eventual signing with Warner Bros.
“The original version is like a locomotive that doesn’t stop. Your jaw would drop,” Simmons said during a 2020 appearance on The Jeremy White Podcast. “The ‘House of Pain’ that’s been recorded by them is tame compared to what this is. You’ll be shocked. And mostly it’s live in the studio.”
“House of Pain” would eventually end up on the band’s sixth studio album ‘1984’ but with different lyrics. The demo version also included the iconic multiple-car horn sound effect that would later be included on “Runnin’ With The Devil” from the band’s 1978 self-titled debut album. Although the recordings that emerged from the 24-track sessions with Simmons were never officially released, they’ve been widely bootlegged and posted online under the title “Zero Demos.”